If you are conducting business with the Government of Saskatchewan by mail, please be advised that delivery may be delayed due to rotating postal strikes. Various measures are in place to ensure service to Saskatchewan residents and businesses during postal strike action.

A number of pages on the Government of Saskatchewan`s web site have been professionally translated in French. These translations are identified by a yellow text box that resembles the link below and can be found in the right hand rail of the page. The home page for French-language content on this site can be found here:

Where an official translation is not available, Google™ Translate can be used. Google™ Translate is a free online language translation service that can translate text and web pages into different languages. Translations are made available to increase access to Government of Saskatchewan content for populations whose first language is not English.

The results of software-based translation do not approach the fluency of a native speaker or possess the skill of a professional translator. The translation should not be considered exact, and may include incorrect or offensive language Government of Saskatchewan does not warrant the accuracy, reliability or timeliness of any information translated by this system. Some files or items cannot be translated, including graphs, photos, and other file formats such as portable document formats (PDFs).

Any person or entities that rely on information obtained from the system does so at his or her own risk. Government of Saskatchewan is not responsible for any damage or issues that may possibly result from using translated website content. If you have any questions about Google™ Translate, please visit: Google™ Translate FAQs.

The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus that can cause acute respiratory illness. MERS-CoV was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The following countries in the Middle East have reported cases of MERS-CoV: Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The majority of cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia.

Additional cases have been identified in Europe, North Africa, Asia and the United States in people who visited the Middle East or were in close contact with someone who traveled there.

Risk to Canadians

The risk to Canadians is low. MERS-CoV does not appear to spread easily from person to person. The primary risk of exposure is present in the affected countries in the Middle East.

Although we do not know exactly how people become infected with MERS-CoV, many people with MERS have had close contact with family members, co-workers, other patients, or healthcare workers who have been sick with MERS. The importance of following strict infection control practices in health care settings cannot be stressed enough.

MERS-CoV has been found in some camels, and some MERS patients have reported contact with camels or camel-based products (e.g. milk or meat). Camels may play a role in the transmission of the virus in the Middle Eastern countries.

Persons with diabetes, kidney failure, or chronic lung disease and those who have weakened immune systems may be at higher risk of developing severe MERS.

Patient instructions

Related Items

This checklist (adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) highlights key steps to assist healthcare providers evaluate and manage patients who present with respiratory illnesses from novel viruses. The checklist should be used in conjunction with local policies and procedures for the prevention of transmission of acute respiratory infections.